USAID’s Global Broadband and Innovations Program

The Global Broadband and Innovations program is focused on closing the urban-rural divide by serving communities who either can’t afford or don’t have access to mobile services. They aid the public sector by working to eliminate the constraints of access and affordability by providing technical assistance in establishing universal services and access funds. They also focus on the private sector by working with Mobile Network Operators to accelerate their adoption of new technologies. You can read a more in depth explanation at the link above.

This program is particularly interesting because it frames the issue of the digital divide not between less developed and industrialized nations, but between urban and rural areas. It’s important to note that even in highly developed countries like the U.S. there are areas, almost exclusively rural ones, that frequently loose power and internet connection despite being in a country that typically is never without those ‘necessities’.

One response to “USAID’s Global Broadband and Innovations Program”

The USAID program that you found is very interesting. I definitely think that it is important to remember that the digital divide does not merely exist between countries of the world; the digital divide can be seen among urban and rural areas within the same country, developed or developing. You made a great point there. Being at Tulane consistently surrounded by internet connection, I feel like many of us forget that there are people that do not even have access living in the United States.